MERMAID. 288 



mammalia with some of the characters of 

 fishes that can be imagined, even as a link, 

 in this part of the order of nature. Many of 

 these stories have been founded upon the long- 

 haired seal seen at a distance, others on the 

 appearance of the common seal under par- 

 ticular circumstances of light and shade, and 

 some on still more singular circumstances. 

 A worthy baronet, remarkable for his bene- 

 volent views and active spirit, has propagated 

 a story of this kind, and he seems to claim 

 for his native country the honour of possessing 

 this extraordinary animal : but the mermaid 

 of Caithness was certainly a gentleman^ who 

 happened to be travelling on that wild shore, 

 and who was seen bathing by some young 

 ladies at so great a distance, that not only 

 genus but gender was mistaken. I am ac- 

 quainted with him, and have had the story 

 from his own mouth. He is a young man, 

 fond of geological pursuits, and one day in 

 the middle of August, having fatigued and 

 heated himself by climbing a rock to examine 

 a particular appearance of granite, he gave 

 his clothes to his Highland guide, who was 



